Published: 2003
Total Pages: 26
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Congress required DoD to destroy about 31,500 tons of highly toxic chemical agents by April 2007, the deadline set by an international treaty for the elimination of all chemical weapon stockpiles. The Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Army shared program responsibility. During July 2002, of the eight programmed chemical agent disposal program facilities, Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility was the only site operating. On July 15, 2002, at 8:20 a.m., two contractor maintenance workers entered the liquid incinerator primary room to perform non-routine maintenance. The portable GE agent monitor alarmed, and during a change of equipment the worker transferred contamination from his leather glove to his head, hair, and respirator. The exposed worker experienced miosis (reduction of eye pupil), red blood cell cholinesterase depression, disorientation, headaches, blurry vision, tightness in the chest, and a runny nose, all symptoms indicative of exposure to GE agent. This chemical event was the first reported significant exposure to a worker during the life of the program. The Army response to the chemical agent accident included separate investigations by the systems contractor and the Army.